Based on looking at the website, IJERD International Journal of Engineering Research and Development presents itself as a platform for publishing research. However, a critical review reveals several red flags that raise concerns about its legitimacy and ethical standing in academic publishing. The promise of “Fast Track Publication within 48 Hours” and “Notification for Review within 48 Hours” for a fee immediately signals a potential predatory publishing model, which prioritizes profit over rigorous peer review and academic integrity. This practice is highly discouraged in academic circles as it undermines the credibility of scholarly work and can mislead researchers.
Here’s an overall review summary:
- Website Professionalism: Appears basic, lacks a robust, scholarly aesthetic.
- Peer Review Process: Claims of “Fast Track Publication within 48 Hours” and “Notification for Review within 48 Hours” contradict the standard, time-intensive nature of legitimate peer review.
- Transparency: While some information is provided, the rapid turnaround times for review and publication, coupled with a publication fee, suggest a lack of rigorous academic vetting.
- Impact Factor Claims: Claims of high impact factors 6.51, 7.429 should be cross-verified with reputable indexing databases, as some predatory journals fabricate or inflate these metrics.
- Indexing: Mentions indexing with ISI, Academia.edu, Research Bible, Google Scholar, Index Copernicus, Issuu, Scribd, Academia, and ResearchGate. While some of these are legitimate, others are social networking sites, not rigorous indexing services.
- UGC Approval: States “UGC Approved Journal till May 2018 which is later converted to UGC CARE List.” This is an outdated claim, and the status needs current verification.
- Ethical Concerns: The business model appears to lean towards “pay-to-publish” without sufficient emphasis on quality control and peer review, a hallmark of predatory journals.
For researchers seeking to publish their work, it’s crucial to prioritize journals that uphold the highest standards of academic integrity, including thorough and transparent peer review processes, strong editorial oversight, and clear ethical guidelines.
Engaging with platforms that exhibit the characteristics seen on IJERD can inadvertently harm a researcher’s reputation and contribute to the proliferation of questionable scholarship.
Here are 7 ethical alternatives for researchers looking to publish:
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- Elsevier Journals: Key Features: One of the largest publishers of scientific, technical, and medical literature. offers a vast array of peer-reviewed journals across numerous disciplines. rigorous peer-review process. high visibility and impact. Price: Varies significantly by journal and publication model subscription or open access with APCs. Pros: High impact, wide dissemination, strong editorial standards, established reputation. Cons: Article Processing Charges APCs for open access can be high. sometimes lengthy review processes.
- Springer Nature Journals: Key Features: Renowned global publisher providing researchers with quality content via journals, books, and databases. covers a broad range of scientific fields, humanities, and social sciences. committed to open science. Price: Varies, open access options often involve APCs. Pros: Excellent reputation, broad subject coverage, commitment to ethical publishing, often well-indexed. Cons: APCs can be a barrier. review times can be extensive.
- Wiley Online Library: Key Features: Publishes across all major academic disciplines. offers a wide selection of peer-reviewed journals. focus on quality and research integrity. promotes open research initiatives. Price: Varies depending on journal and publication model. Pros: Strong global presence, diverse journal portfolio, commitment to peer review. Cons: APCs can be substantial. review processes can be slow.
- IEEE Xplore Digital Library: Key Features: Focuses specifically on electrical engineering, computer science, and electronics. publishes highly respected journals, conference proceedings, and standards. known for strict peer review and technical rigor. Price: Access often through institutional subscriptions. APCs for open access. Pros: Leading authority in its fields, high-quality content, excellent indexing. Cons: Niche focus not for all disciplines. APCs apply for open access.
- MDPI Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute: Key Features: A large open-access journal publisher across various scientific disciplines. known for relatively faster review times compared to traditional publishers while maintaining peer review. emphasis on open access. Price: Primarily relies on Article Processing Charges APCs. Pros: Open access, relatively fast publication, wide range of journals. Cons: Some debate in the academic community regarding its publication volume and certain aspects of its review process, though generally considered legitimate.
- PLOS Public Library of Science: Key Features: A non-profit open-access publisher. committed to accelerating progress in science and medicine by leading a transformation in research communication. publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed open access journals. Price: Primarily funded by Article Processing Charges APCs. Pros: Strong commitment to open science, high ethical standards, reputable journals e.g., PLOS ONE. Cons: APCs can be high. broad scope of PLOS ONE means varying impact.
- Hindawi: Key Features: An open-access publisher across scientific, technical, and medical fields. focuses on making research freely available. emphasizes rigorous peer review and ethical publishing practices. part of Wiley. Price: Operates on an Article Processing Charge APC model. Pros: Open access, wide range of subjects, part of a reputable publisher. Cons: APCs are necessary for publication. some mixed perceptions in the past, though now strengthened by Wiley acquisition.
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IJERD.com Review & First Look
When first landing on IJERD.com, the immediate impression is one of a functional, but not particularly polished, academic website.
The design feels somewhat dated, lacking the sophisticated interface often seen in well-established, high-impact journals.
The navigation bar prominently features links such as “Submit Your Paper,” “Impact Factor,” and “Pay Fees,” which, while common in publishing, set a certain tone.
The homepage is cluttered with claims of high impact factors, rapid publication times, and various indexing services.
This initial observation prompts a deeper dive into the legitimacy of these claims and the operational model of the journal. Profact-international.com Review
Website Aesthetics and User Experience
The website’s visual appeal and overall user experience are rudimentary.
The layout is basic, utilizing standard web elements without much in the way of modern design principles.
Key information is present, but often presented in a dense, text-heavy format that can be overwhelming.
For a platform dealing with academic research, a more professional and streamlined appearance would typically instill greater confidence.
- Design Simplicity: The site uses a simple, functional design. While this might be seen as straightforward, it lacks the professional polish that distinguishes top-tier academic publishers.
- Information Overload: The homepage attempts to cram a significant amount of information into a limited space, leading to visual clutter. Details about impact factors, indexing, and submission deadlines are all vying for attention.
- Navigation: Basic navigation is available, allowing users to access different sections like “Submit Manuscript,” “Editorial Board,” and “Current Issue.” However, the overall flow isn’t as intuitive as it could be for new users.
Initial Red Flags
Several elements on the IJERD.com homepage immediately raise concerns for an experienced academic. Getbitcoinfast.net Review
The emphasis on speed and the direct mention of “Pay Fees” for publication within 48 hours are classic indicators often associated with predatory publishing practices.
Legitimate, high-quality peer review is inherently a time-consuming process that cannot realistically be completed in such a short timeframe.
- “Fast Track Publication within 48 Hours”: This is arguably the most significant red flag. A legitimate peer-review process, involving multiple reviewers, revisions, and editorial decisions, typically takes weeks or even months, not hours.
- “Notification for Review within 48 Hours of Paper Submission”: While quicker than full publication, even a preliminary review and assignment to reviewers usually takes longer than 48 hours for a journal with a robust pipeline.
- “Nominal Fee for Professional Research Services”: While Article Processing Charges APCs are common in open access publishing, the framing of it as a “fee for professional research services” alongside the rapid publication promises can be concerning.
- Unverified Impact Factor Claims: Stating “Impact Factor 6.51” and “Impact Factor 7.429” prominently without clear links to official Thomson Reuters now Clarivate Analytics Journal Citation Reports or other widely recognized impact factor databases necessitates immediate verification. Many predatory journals publish fabricated or self-calculated “impact factors.”
IJERD.com Pros & Cons Focus on Cons
Given the red flags identified, a balanced “Pros & Cons” analysis leans heavily towards the “Cons” when evaluating IJERD.com as a legitimate academic publishing venue.
While it presents itself as an open-access journal offering rapid publication, these perceived benefits are often outweighed by the significant ethical and academic integrity concerns associated with its operational model.
For any researcher, particularly those early in their careers, engaging with journals exhibiting these characteristics can have detrimental effects on their scholarly reputation. Talentopedia.com Review
Cons of IJERD.com
The primary concerns revolve around the integrity of its peer-review process, the credibility of its metrics, and its overall alignment with established academic publishing standards.
These issues make it a questionable choice for researchers aiming for impactful and reputable dissemination of their work.
- Lack of Rigorous Peer Review: The most glaring issue. Promises of 48-hour review and publication are virtually impossible for a genuinely peer-reviewed journal. Legitimate peer review involves:
- Multiple Reviewers: Typically 2-3 experts in the field.
- In-depth Evaluation: Reviewers provide detailed feedback on methodology, results, significance, and writing quality.
- Iterative Process: Authors often revise their manuscripts multiple times based on reviewer and editor comments.
- Time Commitment: This process inherently takes weeks or months, not days. A 48-hour turnaround suggests a superficial or non-existent review process, meaning published papers lack genuine validation.
- Questionable Impact Factor Claims: IJERD.com prominently displays “Impact Factor 6.51” and “Impact Factor 7.429.” While they mention “Thomson Reuters Researcher ID,” these impact factors are not listed in the official Journal Citation Reports JCR by Clarivate Analytics formerly Thomson Reuters, which is the authoritative source for journal impact factors. Claims of “Scientific Journal Impact Factor” and “ISRA Journal Impact Factor” are often associated with non-standard, self-proclaimed metrics used by predatory publishers to mislead authors.
- “UGC Approved Journal till May 2018”: This statement indicates that the journal was on India’s University Grants Commission UGC approved list, but explicitly states it was “till May 2018” and “later converted to UGC CARE List.” This means it is no longer on the current UGC CARE list, which is the updated and recognized list for quality journals in India. Using outdated approval status is misleading.
- Predatory Practices Indicators: The combination of rapid publication, significant publication fees, and questionable peer review suggests a predatory publishing model. These journals often exploit the “publish or perish” pressure on academics, charging authors to publish without providing genuine value in terms of rigorous review, indexing, and dissemination.
- Indexing Misrepresentation: While they list various indexing services like ISI, Academia.edu, Research Bible, Google Scholar, Index Copernicus, Issuu, Scribd, Academia, and ResearchGate, several of these are not true academic indexing databases e.g., Academia.edu, ResearchGate, Issuu, Scribd are social networking or document sharing sites. Listing them alongside legitimate though often less prestigious indexers can create a false sense of credibility.
- Low Academic Reputation: Publishing in such journals can harm a researcher’s academic reputation. Many universities and funding bodies do not recognize publications from predatory journals, potentially impacting promotions, tenure, and grant applications. Research published without proper peer review may also contain errors or flawed methodology, further damaging credibility.
- Lack of Transparency: While they list an editorial board, the transparency regarding the actual review process, editorial policies, and the background of the editors may be insufficient compared to reputable journals.
- Generic Contact Information: The use of a generic email address like
[email protected]rather than an institutionally or publisher-specific domain can also be a minor red flag.
IJERD.com Pricing
IJERD.com explicitly states its publication fee: “Publication Fees 700 INR.” This fee structure, combined with the promise of rapid publication, is a central characteristic of its operational model.
- Flat Fee Model: The journal charges a fixed Article Processing Charge APC of 700 Indian Rupees INR for publication. At the time of this review, 700 INR is roughly equivalent to $8.40 USD as of late 2023/early 2024 exchange rates. This is an exceptionally low fee compared to legitimate open-access journals, which often charge hundreds or thousands of dollars for APCs, reflecting the cost of comprehensive peer review, editorial management, copyediting, and platform maintenance.
- Payment Process: The website includes a “Pay Fees” link, indicating a direct payment mechanism. This often precedes or immediately follows the acceptance of a paper, rather than occurring after a rigorous review process.
- “Soft Copy of Certificates Immediately after the Publication of Paper”: This promise, along with the “Nominal Fee for Professional Research Services,” suggests a transactional approach to publishing, where a fee guarantees publication and a certificate, rather than publication being a merit-based outcome of a rigorous peer review.
The extremely low fee and the guarantee of rapid publication for that fee strongly reinforce the assessment that IJERD.com likely operates as a predatory journal.
In genuine open-access publishing, APCs cover significant operational costs, including managing the peer-review process, copyediting, typesetting, indexing, and maintaining the online platform. Wastedtalent.com Review
A fee as low as 700 INR is insufficient to cover the costs of a high-quality, rigorous peer-review process.
How to Cancel IJERD.com Subscription
The term “subscription” doesn’t quite fit the IJERD.com model as it’s primarily an author-pays open-access journal.
Authors pay a “publication fee” for their paper to be published.
Therefore, there isn’t a traditional “subscription” to cancel in the sense of a recurring readership payment.
Understanding the “Subscription” Context for IJERD.com
If a user perceives having a “subscription” to IJERD.com, it might refer to: Brmmortgageservices.com Review
- Author Fees/Publication Charges: The primary financial transaction is the Article Processing Charge APC paid by authors for publishing their papers.
- Membership: The website does have a “Membership” link. While details aren’t explicitly clear on the homepage text provided, this could involve a recurring fee for authors or readers, though it’s less common for predatory journals to have robust reader subscription models.
- Email Lists/Notifications: Users might be signed up for email notifications or calls for papers.
Canceling Publication-Related Payments
If an author has paid the 700 INR publication fee to IJERD.com but wishes to retract their paper or cancel the publication process, the steps and likelihood of a refund are uncertain and potentially challenging.
- Contacting IJERD.com Directly: The first step would be to immediately contact them via their provided email:
[email protected].- Clearly state your intention to withdraw the paper and request a refund of the publication fee.
- Include all relevant details: manuscript ID, submission date, payment confirmation, and your name/contact information.
- Reviewing Their Policies: Check the “Author Guidelines” or any “Terms and Conditions” if available on their site for their refund or withdrawal policy. Predatory journals often have very strict or non-existent refund policies once payment has been made.
- Dispute with Payment Provider: If direct communication is unsuccessful and you paid via a service like a credit card, PayPal, or a similar online payment gateway, you might be able to dispute the charge with your bank or payment provider. This is often an option if the service promised e.g., legitimate peer review was not delivered. Be prepared to provide evidence of the journal’s questionable practices.
Canceling Membership or Email Notifications
If the “subscription” refers to a membership or email list:
- Check Membership Details: If you signed up for a “Membership,” navigate to the “Membership” page or your user profile if one exists on IJERD.com to see if there’s an option to cancel or manage your membership.
- Unsubscribe from Emails: For email notifications e.g., call for papers, look for an “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any email you receive from them. This is typically a standard practice for email marketing compliance.
General Recommendation: It is highly advisable for researchers to avoid paying any fees to journals that exhibit the red flags seen with IJERD.com. Once money is transferred to a predatory publisher, recovering it can be very difficult. Always conduct thorough due diligence before submitting or paying for any publication.
IJERD.com Alternatives
Given the significant concerns surrounding IJERD.com’s operational model, especially its rapid publication claims and questionable peer review, researchers should strongly consider reputable alternatives for publishing their work.
Choosing a well-established journal ensures that your research receives proper validation, gains visibility within the academic community, and contributes meaningfully to your field. Equinoxsailing.com Review
Characteristics of Reputable Alternatives
When evaluating alternative journals, prioritize those that demonstrate:
- Robust Peer Review: A clear, multi-stage peer review process that involves qualified experts and takes an appropriate amount of time weeks to months.
- Transparency: Clear editorial policies, guidelines for authors and reviewers, and identifiable, credible editorial board members.
- Indexing and Abstracting: Inclusion in major, reputable databases relevant to the discipline e.g., Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, DOAJ for open access.
- Ethical Practices: Adherence to guidelines from organizations like COPE Committee on Publication Ethics.
- Clear Article Processing Charges APCs: If open access, APCs are transparently stated and commensurate with the services provided, reflecting the true cost of rigorous publishing.
- Publisher Reputation: Association with well-known academic publishers Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, IEEE, ACM, etc. or reputable university presses.
Top Alternatives for Engineering, Science, and Management Research
Since IJERD.com covers “Engineering, Science, Management,” here are categories of highly regarded alternatives and some specific examples.
These publishers and platforms host thousands of reputable journals, allowing researchers to find the best fit for their specific sub-discipline.
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Major Commercial Publishers Broad Scope: These publishers host thousands of journals covering nearly every scientific and engineering discipline.
- Elsevier Journals: A global leader in scientific, technical, and medical information. Examples include Engineering Science and Technology, Journal of Operations Management, Automatica.
- Springer Nature Journals: Publishes highly influential journals across science, engineering, and business. Examples include Journal of Materials Science, European Journal of Operational Research, Nature various sub-journals.
- Wiley Online Library: Offers a wide range of journals in engineering, technology, and business. Examples include Journal of Engineering Management, International Journal of Energy Research, Strategic Management Journal.
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Professional Societies and Institutions Specialized Scope: These organizations publish journals specific to their fields, often with high standards. Habitsdoctor.com Review
- IEEE Xplore Digital Library: For electrical engineering, computer science, and related fields. Known for its rigorous technical peer review. Examples: IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, IEEE Journal of Selected Areas in Communications.
- ACM Digital Library: For computing and information technology. Publishes highly respected journals and conference proceedings. Examples: ACM Transactions on Computer Systems, Journal of the ACM.
- American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE: Publishes numerous journals specifically for civil engineering. Examples: Journal of Structural Engineering, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management.
- American Chemical Society ACS Publications: A leading publisher in chemistry and related sciences. Examples: Journal of the American Chemical Society, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
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Open Access Publishers Reputable OA Model: For researchers preferring open access, these publishers maintain high standards while making research freely available.
- PLOS Public Library of Science: A non-profit open-access publisher. While PLOS ONE is multidisciplinary, other PLOS journals are more specialized.
- MDPI Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute: While having a high volume, MDPI is generally considered legitimate with a focus on open access. Researchers should still choose specific journals carefully.
- Frontiers: Another significant open-access publisher with a wide array of journals across science, engineering, and humanities.
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University Presses and Institutional Repositories: Many universities host their own journals or provide platforms for sharing pre-prints and post-prints of research. These can be excellent avenues, often with strong academic oversight.
When selecting an alternative, always:
- Check Journal Metrics: Verify impact factors from JCR/Clarivate, CiteScore Scopus, and presence in the Directory of Open Access Journals DOAJ if applicable.
- Consult Colleagues: Ask senior researchers or mentors for recommendations on reputable journals in your field.
- Use Checklists: Tools like “Think. Check. Submit.” provide a checklist to help authors identify trusted journals for their research.
Choosing a legitimate publishing venue is crucial for the credibility and impact of your research and your long-term academic career.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IJERD.com?
IJERD.com stands for the International Journal of Engineering Research and Development, presenting itself as an online platform for publishing peer-reviewed research articles across engineering, science, and management disciplines. Invisionworks.com Review
Is IJERD.com a legitimate academic journal?
Based on its website, IJERD.com exhibits several characteristics commonly associated with predatory journals, such as promises of extremely rapid publication within 48 hours, a relatively low publication fee, and potentially misleading claims about its impact factor and indexing, raising serious doubts about its legitimacy as a rigorous academic journal.
What is a “predatory journal”?
A predatory journal is a publication that prioritizes self-interest and profit over scholarship, often through misleading practices, lack of rigorous peer review, and exploitation of authors, typically charging fees without providing legitimate publishing services or academic credibility.
Why are rapid publication times a red flag for academic journals?
Rapid publication times, such as “within 48 hours,” are a major red flag because genuine peer review, involving multiple experts critically evaluating a manuscript, providing feedback, and allowing for author revisions, is an inherently time-consuming process that cannot be completed in such a short period.
Does IJERD.com have a real impact factor?
IJERD.com claims high impact factors e.g., 6.51, 7.429, but these numbers should be cross-verified with authoritative sources like Clarivate Analytics’ Journal Citation Reports JCR. Many predatory journals create their own non-standard impact factors or list fabricated ones.
Is IJERD.com indexed in reputable databases?
IJERD.com lists various indexing services, including some legitimate ones like Google Scholar and Index Copernicus, alongside others that are primarily academic social networks or document-sharing sites e.g., Academia.edu, ResearchGate, Issuu, Scribd. This mixed listing can be misleading. Bargainairticket.com Review
How much does it cost to publish in IJERD.com?
IJERD.com states a publication fee of 700 INR Indian Rupees, which is roughly equivalent to $8.40 USD.
This is an exceptionally low fee compared to legitimate open-access journals, further indicating a potential predatory model.
Is IJERD.com on the UGC CARE List?
The website states it was a “UGC Approved Journal till May 2018” and “later converted to UGC CARE List,” implying it is no longer on the current, recognized UGC CARE list in India.
Researchers should always check the most up-to-date UGC CARE List directly for journal status.
What happens if I publish my paper in a predatory journal like IJERD.com?
Publishing in a predatory journal can harm your academic reputation, make your research less credible, and may not be recognized by universities for promotion or tenure, or by funding bodies for grants. Ssd-tech.io Review
It can also reduce the visibility and impact of your work within the legitimate academic community.
How can I verify the legitimacy of an academic journal?
To verify a journal’s legitimacy, check if it’s indexed in major databases relevant to your field Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, DOAJ, examine its editorial board, review the peer-review process, check for transparent policies on fees and ethics, and use tools like the “Think. Check. Submit.” checklist.
Are all open-access journals predatory?
No, absolutely not.
Many highly reputable and legitimate academic journals operate on an open-access model, often funded by Article Processing Charges APCs paid by authors or through institutional support.
The key is distinguishing between legitimate open-access journals and predatory ones. Diamondmoverspackers.com Review
What are some ethical alternatives to IJERD.com for publishing engineering research?
Ethical alternatives include journals from major publishers like Elsevier e.g., Engineering Science and Technology, Springer Nature e.g., Journal of Materials Science, Wiley e.g., Journal of Engineering Management, and professional societies like IEEE e.g., IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control.
What are some ethical alternatives for publishing science research?
Reputable alternatives for science research include journals from publishers like Springer Nature e.g., Nature journals, Elsevier e.g., ScienceDirect journals, Wiley, American Chemical Society ACS publications, and non-profit open-access publishers like PLOS.
What are some ethical alternatives for publishing management research?
For management research, consider journals from reputable publishers like Springer Nature e.g., European Journal of Operational Research, Wiley e.g., Strategic Management Journal, Elsevier e.g., Journal of Operations Management, and professional associations.
How can I withdraw a paper submitted to IJERD.com?
You should immediately email [email protected] to formally request withdrawal of your manuscript.
Be aware that recovering publication fees might be difficult, but you can explore disputing the charge with your payment provider if the promised services like legitimate peer review were not rendered. Cosyloves.com Review
Does IJERD.com provide a copyright form?
Yes, IJERD.com explicitly lists a “Copyright Form” among its links, which authors are likely required to submit.
Always read such forms carefully before signing, especially with questionable publishers.
How long does the peer review process typically take for legitimate journals?
For legitimate academic journals, the peer review process typically takes anywhere from a few weeks to several months, or even longer, depending on the field, the journal’s submission volume, and the complexity of the paper.
Why is IJERD.com’s fee of 700 INR considered low for an academic journal?
A fee of 700 INR is considered very low because legitimate academic publishing involves significant costs, including managing the extensive peer review process, copyediting, typesetting, hosting, archiving, and promoting articles.
Such a low fee cannot sustain a high-quality, rigorous operation. Travelwindo.com Review
Should I trust the “8+ Years Experience” claim on IJERD.com?
While IJERD.com claims “8+ Years Experience” and “4610+ Paper Publish,” these statistics should be viewed critically.
A long history or high volume of publications doesn’t automatically equate to academic quality or ethical practices, especially when coupled with other predatory indicators.
What resources are available to help researchers identify predatory journals?
Researchers can use the “Think. Check.
Submit.” initiative’s checklist, consult Beall’s List though no longer updated, its criteria are useful, check the Directory of Open Access Journals DOAJ, and ask senior colleagues or librarians for advice.
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